Family of Bury man whose ashes were stolen make emotional plea to have them returned home

Greater Manchester Police are appealing for information following a burglary in Bury. amongst items stolen from the house on Brandlesholme Road were a man’s ashes. 

Police were called to the property on Tuesday September 19. They were informed by the resident that a number of power tools were stolen from the garage, as well as the ashes. 

Police are following a number of lines of enquiry, but have also issued a second appeal to the public for further information.

The family have released the following statement to the public. You can see this in full below. 

The family said: “Earlier this year, I lost my husband Nigel to pancreatic cancer after being married for nearly fifty years. Nigel’s death has completely devastated our family, and to say we are heartbroken would be an understatement.

“On Tuesday September 19 2023, I discovered that the garage at the rear of our home had been broken into and a number of power tools had been stolen from inside. Also stolen from inside the garage, from the wooden workbench, were Nigel’s ashes.

“Nigel’s ashes were in a mint green coloured box, inside a burgundy coloured tote bag. Nigel spent the majority of his time in the garage, he was a passionate handyman who would turn his hands to absolutely anything and loved spending time at his workbench. 

“When we received Nigel’s ashes, we decided as a family that we would place them on his wooden workbench in the garage, as this is where he loved to be, and where he was happiest. One of Nigel’s last wishes was that he wanted to have his ashes scattered at Woodbank Cricket Club. A place which held a special place in his heart, he loved spending time here.

“As a family, we decided that we would wait until the cricket season was over to scatter Nigel’s ashes, and now the season is over, we cannot fulfil his wishes as someone has stolen them from us.

“I am appealing to the local community and the people of Bury, and I ask that anyone with any knowledge of this crime come forward with information. There must be someone who knows or has any information about this.

“I am not interested in the return of the power tools, all I want is for my husband’s ashes to be returned to us, so as a family we can fulfil his last wish and lay him to rest. I have already lost my husband, and now I have lost him for a second time.”